Now is the time to really get down to finishing up the handmade Christmas gifts.  I have collected all the materials, so no more excuses.  I love these little wool felt bags and beads and have thought of several techniques I would love to find time to try out on them.  This is the one that seemed the quickest so I thought to start with it.  These ditty bags were designed as changed purses but for stitchers and crafters they can hold all kinds of "stuff" besides change.  I used wool hand-dyed threads for the stitching and only two stitches - lazy daisy and French knots.  Then, I threaded the yarn through the bead and knotted it to make a mini tassel and fringed the ends.  It was a quick little project and fun to do! 

This week I have been stitching "stitches" for next year's column.  Next week. is definitely time for my new "big project". 

It was really great to take a "stitching break" from stitching today.  Recently I read another blog and got inspired to begin keeping a visual record of all these little projects I do throughout the year.  I'm sorry I have forgotten the name of the  writer but she said before blogging she would look back on her year and feel she had little to show for it (or not as much as she wanted).  Now when she looks back over the last few years and can see her accomplishments she feels much better.  I loved the idea....and I feel better already.